This blog is dedicated to musicians, fans and fanatics that brave the boundaries of FOUR. Its for Talkin', Playin', Writin', Debatin' and Pontificatin' about music that is outside of the restrictions of common meters. From toe tappin' to head bangin', we are genre biased free, Prog, Metal, Rock, Speed Comp, Electronic, Jazz, World, Classical and all flavors in between ...

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Wild Turkey - Kentucky Bourbon - NO
ohhhh the high school days, paaatein' in the New England woods, one Wild Turkey (mixed with who knows what else) night was enough thank you...

Wild Turkey - Wild Meat - NO

too gamey, I prefer Tofurkey.

Wild Turkey - 70's ProgRock - YES

Now we're talkin'.... This Thanksgiving I am going to be groovin' to 5 and singin' along.... 'See You Next Tuesday' ha...

Ah the 70s what a great time for music and experimentation and some musicians even ventured into the odd meter realms. Wild Turkey is one of these bands. WT was formed by Glenn Cornick (bassist for Jethro Tull) in the 70s and had some reincarnations since and according to internet sources (Wikipedia and link below) they are still alive and kickin'. They had two releases in the early 70s - 'Battle Hymn'-70 and 'Turkey' -71, then 'Stealer of Years' - 96 and 'Final Performance' - 00. I have the first two in my collection and found just a few oddies, but goodies.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Michael Karwowski is an accomplished Classical, Jazz Fusion and Rock composer from Pittsburg, who mainly composes in odd meters and can play a mean Chapman stick. Now how cool is that? He graduated from Berklee (the same year I did) with a degree in Composition and if that wasn’t enough he went on to get a Masters in Composition from the Carnegie Mellon University. Check out his unique approach to harmonic movement, harmony/melody relationships, and polymeters which is sure to leave you wanting more.

Here are some samples of his compositions that will be featured on Odd Time Obsessed internet radio and more to come. And as if polymeters and Chapman Stick weren’t cool enough he’s got a piece all in 13! I’m diggin’!

Michael gives us the breakdown:

"Three Vignettes" composed by Michael Karwowski performed by "Of Birth and Death"

1.Lincoln Place - starts out in 4/4, the main idea is two measures broken into 3+3+3+3+4 eighth notes. There are short sections where the meter is 5/4, 9/8, and an occasional 3/4.

2. Is this all there is? - was created using a 9/8, 7/8 platform for the main idea. Each section has a dedicated pattern of time signatures.
3. Friday@5:00 - has the following setup for the A section. 6/8 + 4/4 + 3/4 + 4/4 + 4/4 + 3/4 + 3/4 + (5/8x4) + 3/4 + (5/8x3) = 89 eighth notes I call the ensemble

"The Day the Leaves Scattered From the Trees" A quintet for winds and string (Flt. Ob. Cl. Vla. and Cel).
13/8 divided into into a permutating 3+3+2+2+3.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

I guess a lot of people do, I mean, I kinda thought they were back in the day, but I haven't been in the Addiction of Jane's loop lately. Anywho, I was just turned on to their 2003 release "Strays" this weekend and its pretty cool even if they didn't get along. Perry is one of a kind and his vocal layering is way cool on this effort. As I was listening and hoping to find an oddy. And just at the seventh track I could not believe my ears..... 15/8 and 14/8 all in same song. Now that's bloody cool....